Tim Rutherford-Johnson (b. 1977) is a writer, speaker and teacher on contemporary music. His first book, Music after the Fall: Modern Composition and Culture since 1989 was published in February 2017 by University of California Press. His second, The Music of Liza Lim, a detailed study of the works of the Australian composer, was published by Wildbird in 2022. Tim also co-authored, with Tom Perchard, Stephen Graham and Holly Rogers, the undergraduate textbook Twentieth-Century Music in the West for Cambridge University Press.

His new edition of the Oxford Dictionary of Music –  updated with entries on modern composition, world music, and pop, rock, jazz and electronica – was published in 2012 by Oxford University Press. It has been translated into Spanish and (simplified) Chinese.

Tim has taught at Goldsmiths College and Brunel University and he sits on the artistic board of the Riot Ensemble. He has appeared as a speaker at Gaudeamus Muziekweek (Netherlands), Only Connect (Norway), hcmf// (UK) and the London Contemporary Music Festival.

He has written programme essays for the Salzburg, Aldeburgh, Rainy Days (Luxembourg) and BBC Proms festivals, as well as for all major venues in London. He has provided sleevenotes for many record labels, including Coviello,  Dacapo, Delphian, Kairos and World Edition. Recent subjects of his writing include Michael Jarell, György Kurtág, Anna Meredith and Ian Wilson.

He lives in the High Weald with his wife Elizabeth and their two children. He was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as a baby, but hasn’t let this get in his way.

If you would like to contact Tim, please email timrutherfordjohnson AT gmail DOT com. You can also find him on BlueSky (@purlis.bsky.social).

Portrait photo by Anton Lukoszevieze.